Oakland Raiders: Grading the Week 17 loss to the San Diego Chargers

Terrelle Pryor completed less than 50 percent of his passes (13 of 28) for 150 yards with an interception and two touchdowns. He had accuracy issues and wasn't helped by his receivers, who could have made some tough catches but didn't. Made clutch 38-yard throw to Rod Streater (4 receptions, 77 yards) in fourth quarter. Good judgment on knowing when to run or pass.

Grade: C-plus

Run offense

A desultory season running the ball ended that way as the Raiders gained 115 yards on 29 carries on a day when they needed something more to support Pryor. Pryor had 49 of those yards on nine carries, mostly scrambles. Darren McFadden gained 57 yards on 19 carries, averaging 3.0 yards per carry, even lower than his disappointing season's norm of 3.3.

Grade: D

Pass defense

Philip Rivers completed 13 of 17 passes for 151 yards and two touchdowns, but the Chargers were only 2 for 11 on third-down conversions. Rivers often looked harassed and confused. Mike Mitchell let Antonio Gates free for an 11-yard touchdown catch, and Danario Alexander beat Brandian Ross for a 34-yard score. Pass rush was above average.

Grade: B-minus

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Run defense

The Chargers gained 70 yards on 31 carries -- averaging 2.3 yards per attempt -- and didn't have a gain longer than 8 yards. The Raiders got off blocks and made plays against the run all day, and on the few occasions tackles were missed, another defender was there to make up for it.

Grade: A

Special teams

Mike Spurlock's game-opening 99-yard kickoff return put the Chargers ahead to stay. Also, Eric Weddle ran 6 yards on a fourth-and-1 out of punt formation on a touchdown drive. No other big returns on either side. Coye Francies gave the Raiders a chance late with a blocked punt that led to the Raiders' third touchdown, recovered by Kaelin Burnett.

Grade: C

Coaching

Defensive game plan was sound, as well as soundly executed. Offensively, the Raiders got Pryor outside often but maybe Greg Knapp didn't call enough plays that suited his strengths. Option game was pretty much nonexistent, although it's conceivable they feared turnovers in sloppy conditions. Overall, the Raiders didn't look like a team playing out the string.